New Winter War Documentary Released

Finnish Winter War Documentary Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia is being released on PBS beginning in February, 2006

January 26, 2006:  “Fire and Ice” dramatically depicts the intensity of the war front and the home front. It was a total war for the very existence of a people.

“Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia”, was shown for the first time in August at Finn Grand Fest 2005 in Marquette, Michigan, and at the Heartland Film Festival in Indiana. "Fire and Ice" will be shown on PBS stations around the U.S. beginning February, 2006. This documentary, produced and directed by Emmy award winning producer Ben Strout, shows how the Finnish / Russian Winter War of 1939 influenced World War II and how Finland mobilized against the world’s largest military power.

In the words of Mr. Strout: “In November of 1939, when Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union, no one expected that this tiny nation could resist the largest military force in the world. And no one anticipated that 1939 would be one of the coldest winters in recorded history, what historians have called a frozen hell. Filmed on the old battlefields of Finland and Russia, “Fire and Ice” dramatically depicts the intensity of the war front and the home front. It was a total war for the very existence of a people. The Finnish resistance changed the course of World War II and saved a democracy. “Fire and Ice” is a timeless story of courage against all odds, of a people united to preserve their freedom.”

In addition to its cinematographic excellence, this documentary brings broad perspective to what, for most people, is simply a footnote to WWII. The fact that the Russian forces were three times the size of the Allied landing at Normandy on D-Day is just one element of that.

The film is available in DVD format from the Finnish History Website www.kevos4.com . Also, in conjunction with the PBS release, Masterworks Media has developed a website and educational materials that meet standard curriculum requirements for teaching about World War II.  The author William R. Trotter appears in the documentary.  His book, A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-40, was published in 1991 and is available through the and KevOs4 and fireandicemovie.com websites.

Note to editors:  For more information, please contact:  

Contact person:
Ben Strout
President - MastersWork Media
Phone: 317-844-3662, phone/fax

Email: ben@mastersworkmedia.com
"Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia" is a MastersWork Media production.

Author:
Marshall Kregel
Web: http://www.kevos4.com

Email: kevos4@yahoo.com